Congress slams govt over new labour rules, demands review

Congress general secretary and chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala slammed the central government over proposed 'Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code (Central) Rules, 2020'. The Congress party also claimed that the newly drafted rules will lead to at least 41 lakh job losses.

New Delhi: As Labour Ministry notified new drafts for the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions code (Central) Rules 2020, allowing 12 hours working a day, Congress party demanded a review of the rules, alleging the BJP government of exploiting the labour class.

Congress party also claimed that the move will lead to at least 41 lakh job losses.

In an official statement, Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala lashed out at the central government and said, "India abolished slavery centuries ago. The Modi government has re-introduced the system of 'economic slavery' for the labour and working-class people through the 'Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Rules, in order to benefit few crony capitalists friends."

The party alleged that the BJP government, rather than mitigating the over-exploitation of poor and vulnerable, has now "designed an open licence to oppress the working and manufacturing class."

"According to (draft) new rules, workers will have to do 12-hour shifts which will give them little time with families. This would have a severe impact on the physical and mental well-being of India's labour and working class," he added.

"The anti-labour rules of Modi government is bound to make one-third of the current workforce in factories across India 'redundant' and 'jobless' as Industries will now opt for two shifts instead of the current pattern of 3 shifts," said the Congress leader.

He quoted the latest Annual Survey of Industries by the Government of India, according to which in the year 2017-18, there were 1.22 crores individual workers employed in factories in the organized sector, claiming that with the stretched working hours, one third, that is more than 40,65,000 people will be "rendered jobless" immediately upon implementation of new rules.

The Congress also demanded that these rules should be reviewed forthwith in consultation with all the stakeholders including All India Trade Union Congress and other bodies and until then these should be kept in suspended animation.